Saturday Lineup Card: Bearing Down

Derek is the Senior Baseball Editor for RotoWire.com, where he's been a two-time finalist for the FSWA's Baseball Writer of the Year award, and winner of the Best Football Article on the Web (2009) and Best Baseball Article on the Web (2010) awards. Derek also co-hosts RotoWire Fantasy Sports Today on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (XM 87, Sirius 210) from 11a-2p ET on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

New York Mets - Jose Valverde struck out one while giving up a hit and issuing a walk against the Reds on Friday night, but he secured his first save since taking over the job from the injured Bobby Parnell earlier this week. For those fading Valverde, it's likely worth noting that Kyle Farnsworth recorded the final out of the seventh and all three outs in the eighth in front of Valverde on Friday night.

Milwaukee - Francisco Rodriguez finished the Brewers' win over the Red Sox on Friday, and was actually warming up to enter the game after the go-ahead runs were scored in the top of the ninth inning. The Brewers' offense turned the situation into one of the non-save variety, but Rodriguez still has the upper hand over Jim Henderson as the closer in Milwaukee at the present time.

Lucas Duda, 1B, NYM - Duda swatted a pair of homers for the Mets on Friday night, and Ike Davis' future in the organization is once again in doubt. While Duda will yield starts at first base to Josh Satin when the Mets face a left-handed starter, he hit fifth Friday night and should receive plenty of run-producing opportunities as long as he holds onto the larger share of the platoon at the position.